title: High-density lipoprotein levels have markedly increased over the past twenty years in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) level is a major negative risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases dependent on various lifestyle parameters. Changes in the lifestyle of Japanese individuals over the past several decades is believed to have increased their total cholesterol levels and the incidence of cardiovascular disease in Japan. It is therefore important to assess the long-term trends in the HDL-C levels with respect to public health in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, accumulated data for the serum/plasma HDL-C levels published in cohort studies and obtained during health checkup programs in Japan were analyzed with respect to timedependent changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of HDL-C have continuously and significantly increased over the past 20 years by 12-15% according to the National Health and Nutrition Study, other cohort studies and commercially available data. On the other hand, the non-HDL-cholesterol levels demonstrated no changes or only a slight decrease during the same period. This finding is consistent with several sets of data obtained from health checkup programs. The commercially measured levels of serum apoA-I, an independent parameter of serum HDL, also showed a similar long-term increase, supporting the above findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the serum/plasma HDL concentrations in Japanese individuals, selectively, have increased continuously and significantly over the past 20 years or more. The reasons for this phenomenon and the consequent public health outcomes have yet to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Health Science Research Center, Chubu University.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miida
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukukawa
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada-Shiba
authors.forename: Michitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Kiminori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors